Page 29 of The Ever King

She was near the edge of the fort, surrounded by guards from her realms, and kept slicing a dagger, trying to break free of them. They wouldn’t sacrifice their princess, and caged her behind their round, wooden shields.

A cloud of inky shadows coated their faces, but it faded swiftly when a guard took hold of Mira’s wrists. As a powerful illusionist fae, no mistake, she was trying to break free with her magic.

“Livia,” she sobbed when the guard gave up and simply wrapped his arms around his princess’s waist, dragging her clear of the fighting.

Bloodsinger watched it all, a vicious sort of grin on his face, as though we’d done exactly what he’d wanted all along.

Waves crashed against the edge of the gates. This far across the courtyard meant we’d reached the rocky foundation where angry seas thrashed against white, pebbled stones at the base of the fort. My stomach lurched. A few tall gates and a cruel drop was all that was left between me and a watery grave.

“Look how many shall miss you, love.” Bloodsinger laughed. “It’s almost touching.”

“Erik, stop this.”

For the first time, the sea king went still. One hand gripped my throat. He spun me in front of him, using me as a shield.

On a staircase that led to one of the watchtowers on the gates, Stieg, blade out, looked nowhere but the Ever King. “Let her go, boy.”

“Warrior.” Bloodsinger gritted the word out, as though it burned his tongue. “You look old.”

What the hells?

“And you look lost.” When Stieg stepped forward, Erik stepped back.

“You have a chance here, love,” he whispered. “Do I call off my crew, or shall we have a bit more fun?”

I lifted my chin. “Stieg, stand down.”

“Can’t do that, Princess.”

“They take me, they leave,” I said, a croak in my voice. “Ror is near the smokehouse and—”

“I’m not letting you go.” Stieg’s jaw pulsed. “Erik, think hard about what you’re doing.”

Against my back, Bloodsinger’s chest hummed with another laugh. “For turns I’ve hadnothingelse to think about, warrior.”

“You’re starting new wars.”

“No. I’m finally ending them.” The hand he kept around my neck, he lifted to his mouth. With a quick bite, he drew a drop of blood on his finger.

“Erik, don’t!” Stieg shouted with a new frenzy.

Bloodsinger painted my bottom lip with his own blood, then licked off the rest. “Best not to taste those beautiful lips, Songbird,” he whispered. “Warrior, if you want to risk her neck, keep walking. If you want her to live to see another sunrise, then step back.”

A wash of defeat painted Stieg’s face. I didn’t understand the connection between my father’s captain and the Ever King, but his resignation at the sight of his blood brought truth to rumors. Erik Bloodsinger was made of poison.

Lost in the pause, I hadn’t realized how near the cliff the sea king had guided us.

“Say goodbye, love.” He didn’t give me a chance before he waved his hand, and from the cove below us the water swirled, and we fell backward into the sea.

CHAPTER10

The Serpent

The sea had been a prison at dawn. Now, moonlight revealed the truth of its beauty at long last. Itsfreedom.

For another fae, the fall might’ve shattered them on the rocks. For the Ever King, the sea rose to greet us.

My little songbird fought hard not to scream, but before the biting cold of the white foam took us, a shrill cry scraped from her throat. No doubt unwanted, she nuzzled closer, hiding her face against my neck.